Methods and systems for on-demand transmission of a positioning reference signal in a wireless network

An entity in a wireless network configured for supporting location of a user equipment (UE) comprising:

• an external interface configured to receive and send messages to other entities in the wireless network;
• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the external interface and the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to:
• determine an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network;
• send, via the external interface, a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter;
• and
• receive, via the external interface, a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter;
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to coordinate the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network by being configured to determine an area of increased PRS transmission and the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area.

An entity in a wireless network configured for supporting location of a user equipment (UE) comprising:

• means for determining an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network;
• means for sending a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter;
• and
• means for receiving a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter;
• wherein coordination of the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network comprises means for determining an area of increased PRS transmission, wherein the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at least one processor in a first entity in a wireless network for supporting location of a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• program code to determine an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmission points (transmitters), wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network;
• program code to send a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter;
• and
• program code to receive a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter;
• wherein program code to coordinate the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network comprises program code to determine an area of increased PRS transmission and the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area.